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MONDAY, July 7, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Smokers who have a specific form of a gene that's involved in processing nicotine in the body may find it harder to kick their habit than other smokers, says a new Japanese study in Thorax.
The study also found that the presence of a CYP2A6del allele seems to protect people against developing pulmonary emphysema.
The researchers took DNA samples from 203 current or former smokers with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The researchers also collected DNA samples from 123 healthy nonsmokers.
The study found fewer heavy smokers had a CYP2A6del allele than light smokers or nonsmokers, and that fewer ex-smokers had a CYP2A6del allele than current smokers.
The researchers conclude the CYP2A6del allele seems to restrict the amount of lifelong cigarette consumption in heavy smokers, but not in light smokers. It also appears the CYP2A6del allele inhibits smokers from quitting but also helps protect against development of pulmonary emphysema.
"These findings suggest that determination of the genotype will be useful in efficiently withdrawing patients from nicotine dependence in smoking cessation protocols with nicotine-containing materials, and will give a new insight into the pathogenesis of smoking-induced pulmonary emphysema," the authors write.
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